Car lease ad agreement

Published on November 22, 1996.

As expected, five carmakers signed consent agreements with the Federal Trade Commission to settle complaints of deceptive car lease advertising. The settlements require lease ads from General Motors Corp., Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, American Honda Motor Co., American Isuzu Motors and Mazda Motor of America to provide clear, readable and understandable cost data. The FTC said it will continue to monitor all "zero-down" auto lease and credit advertising. The FTC cited specific TV ads from the five that buried or hid additional lease costs in "mouse print" or in scrolling lines that moved quickly on the screen.